Shorter Bob Gates: Jesus, no, I’m not telling people to stop talking to the media. I couldn’t accomplish that if I tried. And I’ve said for years that the media aren’t the enemy; you help me do my job. Let’s just exercise some common sense, yeah?

More eloquent Bob Gates:

Over the last two years, I have lost a first-rate Central Command commander and an outstanding commander of ISAF in Afghanistan due to their own missteps in dealing with the media. I’ve had to recall a combatant commander to Washington for a verbal reprimand for speaking out inappropriately on a sensitive foreign-policy issue. I’ve had two very different presidents each on several occasions express concern to me about senior Defense officials, both civilian and military, speaking out inappropriately on foreign-policy issues.

Very nice things to say about Adm. Fallon and Gen. McChrystal. This was an important thing to add: “I believe, at least in my interaction with military, and from E1s to four-stars — because I meet — I meet with troops everywhere I go — and I have never encountered, at any level of the military, any disrespect for civilian authority.” Now, you can find no shortage of disrespect for particular civilians, and that can become a slippery slope. But the distinction is an important one — both to recognize and to maintain.